(London) The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday in Scotland, will take place on Monday September 19 in London, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday.
Posted at 12:16 p.m.
Updated at 12:36 p.m.
Leaders from around the world are expected for the funeral, which will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET). King Charles III, his son who succeeded him, declared a public holiday in the UK for the occasion.
The remains of Elizabeth II are currently in the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, Scotland, where she breathed her last.
It will then be transferred to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, before being transported to London on Tuesday where it will be publicly displayed for four days in Westminster Hall, the oldest section of the Houses of Parliament, after a procession through the streets of London.
On September 19, at 10:44 a.m., the coffin will depart from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the funeral service will take place, Buckingham Palace said.
At the end of the service, the coffin will leave in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington’s Arch, then it will be taken to Windsor.
And once you arrive in Windsor, there will be another hearse procession to St George’s Chapel, the palace said in its statement.
The ceremony on September 19 is expected to attract millions of visitors, as well as personalities from around the world who will attend the funeral, a logistical and security challenge for British law enforcement.
Among the expected guests, the American presidents Joe Biden and French Emmanuel Macron, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as many leaders of the former British colonies.
Tribute from Prince William
PHOTO ANDREW COULDRIDGE, REUTERS
Prince William with his spouse, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Harry accompanied by his spouse Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Prince William, heir to the throne, paid a moving tribute on Saturday to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, and promised to support his father, King Charles III, “in every way possible”.
Hailing in a statement “an extraordinary leader whose commitment to the country, the kingdoms and the Commonwealth was absolute”, he also said his sadness at having lost his grandmother, to whom he was very close.
“My grandmother said grief was the price to pay for love. All the sadness we will feel in the weeks to come will testify to the love we have for our extraordinary queen. I will honor his memory by supporting my father, the king, in any way I can,” said the prince, eldest son of Charles III who bestowed on him the title of Prince of Wales on Friday.
“While I mourn her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful,” he added, noting that he had benefited from “her wisdom and comfort” for 40 years.
“My wife has benefited from his advice and support for twenty years. My three children were able to vacation with her and create memories that will last a lifetime.”
“She was by my side in my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day was coming, but it will take me time to get used to the reality of life without Grandma,” the prince added.